Ways to Give

Children's Harbor Anchor Society

The Children’s Harbor Anchor Society welcomes donors who create a financial anchor for the services Children’s Harbor provides by contributing $5,000 or more in a calendar year.

In ancient times, the anchor was a large, heavy rock that could be counted on to stabilize a vessel. At Children’s Harbor we look to that symbol to serve, as the psalmist said, as a refuge in time of trouble. And we do so with many hands joining in this important cause.

Children’s Harbor is secured and stabilized by annual gifts that provide a financial anchor for our services to seriously ill children and their families. Those generous donors that contribute $5,000 or more in a calendar year are named to our Anchor Society.

This annual giving society was established in 2008 when more than one hundred loyal donors made anchor-type gifts totaling $5,000 or more to Children’s Harbor, helping to secure the services upon which the families we serve depend. These friends provided significant operating funds in support of our mission to provide free services to serve children with serious illnesses and their families.

We were pleased to honor these special donors, their compassionate gifts and their loyal support through the creation of the Anchor Annual Giving Society. Members of this society receive a special recognition item as a symbol of their special support of Children’s Harbor and are invited to attend an annual reception in their honor hosted by Ben and Luanne Russell.

Donations by members of the Anchor Society provide a vital stabilizing force and rock solid foundation. To learn more about becoming a part of this special giving society, please email LeAnn Crowe or call ‭(256) 239-6671‬ for more information.

Golf Tournament Benefits Children’s Harbor

RhizoKids Conference Provides Medical Exams for Children with Rare Disorder

Children’s Harbor hosted 18 families from all over the nation and the world for RhizoKids, a camp and educational experience for those who have children with a rare and terminal form of extreme dwarfism called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata or RCDP.

Church of the Highlands Members Serve in the Treasures & Thrift Store

A Letter from a Mom

Leah Arkle’s son, Wynn, is in the intensive feeding program at Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham. Both mother and son have spent many hours in the Children’s Harbor Family Center during Wynn’s stay in the hospital.

The Other Side of Camp: Relief for Parents

Children’s Harbor Lake Martin is a beacon of hope for families of children with chronic illness. Attending a camp is a chance to expand their supportive community as well as connect with other camp families who understand the issues they are facing.

Sweet Family Moments

Magic Moments Sporting Clay Shoot

The 2016 Childrens Harbor- Magic Moments Sporting Clay Shoot fundraiser on September 30th at Selwood Farms was a great success. 71 teams competed for multiple prizes from Mark's Outdoors. A great time was had by all!

Hastings-Curtin Dinner supports Children's Harbor

Chris and Idie Hastings, chef and co-owners of the nationally celebrated Hot and Hot Fish Club and Ovenbird in Birmingham, Alabama, along with Tom and Susan Curtin of DuMol Wines hosted a magnificent fundraising dinner with a southern flair featuring seasonal, local ingredients on August 6th at the Lake Martin Campus’ Galley.

Davenport-Dixon Invitational Golf Tournament

The Seventh Annual Davenport-Dixon Invitational Golf Tournament benefiting Children’s Harbor was held at Vestavia Country Club on Monday, August 29th. The tournament featured one round of golf where 21 teams of four competed in a Texas Scramble to honor Gene Davenport and David Dixon, two very special supporters of Children’s Harbor.

Cinderella Ballerina Ball: A Magical Fairytale Event

For the second year in a row, the precious ballerinas and moms from Westwood Ballet organized with the help of Darby Calhoun, Children’s Harbor Activity Coordinator, a spectacular dream of an event for 40 seriously ill little girls.

Children's Harbor Welcomes Families Dealing with Rare Form of Dwarfism

Children’s Harbor has hosted 18 families from all over the nation and the world for RhizoKids, a camp and educational experience for those who have children with a rare and terminal form of extreme dwarfism called Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata or RCDP.

Mom Achieves Success in Medical Field after Children's Harbor Career Development Program

Deidre Perry is a hardworking single mom with three outstanding kids. She has been utilizing the Family Center for about eight years now. Through the support from our programs and services, she was able to go back to school and recently became a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.

Family Center Becomes Family’s Fun Getaway During Hospital Stay

Could you imagine being 150 miles away from home and in an intensive feeding program that requires your child to go through intense therapy for seven hours a day? The Aarhus family from Starkville, MS, made this journey with their adorable daughter Molly Kate for 8 weeks.

Friends of Children’s Harbor Auction raises over $200,000 in proceeds

This event generated over $200,000 in proceeds which will go directly to fund programs at the Lake Martin campus and the Family Center at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham. Thank you to our sponsors, businesses who contributed items, and to the attendees for your support.

Children's Harbor receives grant to support Family Center

We are pleased to announce we have received a $30,000 grant from The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. This grant will go to support the Family Center located at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children.

Christmas dinner brightens holiday for patients and families

During December 2015, the volunteers from Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church came and served a wonderful Christmas dinner to the patients and their families. The meal gave families an opportunity to take a break from the hospital room and to have a moment of normalization which means the world to them.

Children’s Harbor Barber Motorsports Day

Children’s Harbor teamed up with Barber Motorsports Park for a day to remember for patients and families. The “Children’s Harbor Barber Motorsports Day” offered a tour of the world’s largest motorcycle museum and lots more.

Children's Harbor says thanks to Boaters

Boaters from around Alexander City, AL offer their time to take campers from various illness specific camps on a boat ride. Children's Harbor recently had the opportunity to say thanks during the 2015 Boaters' Crawfish Boil.

We Appreciate Our Volunteers!

Children’s Harbor is a magical place, not only for the children and their families who find love and support here, but also for those whose efforts help make the wonder possible-our dedicated volunteers.

A Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration

Children’s Harbor and Vanderbilt students collaborated to host an event geared towards sharing the importance of reading on Dr. Seuss’ birthday Monday, March 2nd. The event was coordinated by Children’ s Harbor Program Specialist Morgan Stephenson and consisted of many Dr. Seuss inspired activities including a reading of “The Lorax” by two Vanderbilt students dressed up as Cat in the Hat and the Lorax.

Bruce Pearl "Fore the Kids" Donation

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl and his wife, Brandy, partnered with Children’s Harbor for the inaugural Fore the Children golf tournament presented by Russell Lands, with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Harbor. On December 23rd, 2014, the Auburn Tigers men's basketball program honored Children’s Harbor making it officially the “Children’s Harbor Night”.

Counseling Services & Camp Hemo

In November, Children's Harbor counselor Jenny Tudisco organized a therapeutic Thanksgiving themed activity for dialysis patients. One of the patients, Tyson, expressed the things he was most thankful for. We're very honored to report Children's Harbor's Camp Hemo made his list. Learn more about Camp Hemo and what else Tyson is thankful for.

Smith Family

The Smiths are such a special family that Children’s Harbor has had the honor of supporting throughout the years. “We came to Children’s Harbor for support in 1995 after Devonte had been diagnosed with cancer. Children’s Harbor has been able to help us cope with the fears and anxiety that came with Devonte’s diagnosis."

Camp Wired Together

The amount of courage and the cheerful attitude of the patients at Camp Wired Together was amazing. These campers are dealing with very serious medical conditions that often rely on implantable cardioverter defibrillator to administers a therapeutic dose of electrical energy or “shock” when needed to restore normal heart function.

Schuttinga Family

Scott, Karen, Caleb, and Logan Schuttinga made a special visit to the Family Center in May to deliver a donation in memory of their beautiful daughter and sister, Cassidy. Although Cassidy lost her battle with cancer a little over five years ago, the family never forgets how much Children’s Harbor helped them in their time of need.

Volunteer Spotlight: Leah Dennis

"Camp Conquest was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve been able to be a part of. I went into the camp not knowing one person, and came back feeling like I had one hundred new best friends." Read about some of the inspiring camper stories about courage and friendship that Leah heard while volunteering at Camp Conquest.

Children's Harbor and Camp Conquest

When a child leaves the hospital after physically recovering from their burns, they return to their schools, friends, and families where they are often the only burn survivor. Camp Conquest, held at Children's Harbor on Lake Martin, connects children and teens who have experienced the same injuries.

Girls Night Out for Diabetes Patients

Children’s Harbor Endocrinology Counselor, Heather Jordan, has partnered with the Southern Diabetes Education Services and created a “Girl’s Night Out” support group at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children. Activities include painting, crafts, service activities and much-much more.

Jesse’s first job

Children’s Harbor first met Jesse in 2012 when he was referred to our Education, Career Development and Transition program for career development coaching by his Hoover High School exceptional education teacher, Ann Glass. Since then, Jesse has flourished in our program through the guidance of program coordinator Janice Crow.

Will’s wish

In February of 2013 Will Stephan suffered a traumatic brain injury during a Hall-Kent Elementary School basketball game, but no one knew. Days after the accident things took a turn for the worse. Will started to slur his speech and forgot simple things. After seeing a doctor, Will was diagnosed with a concussion.

Jaquares’ Lego story

Jaquares, a kidney transplant patient, loves nothing more than playing with Legos or watching a professional Lego build on YouTube in his hospital room. During a routine visit with the family to offer support, Jenny Tudisco, a Children’s Harbor licensed professional counselor, learned how much these Legos meant to the five year old patient.

Graycen fell in love with the music

Graycen Bond, age 2, was diagnosed with heart disease which required a transplant. She is now back home in Kenner, LA. While she was a patient at the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, Children’s Harbor Cardiology Counselor Jared Hood offered Music Together activities to Graycen and her family.

After 13,500 toys, Bill's not slowing down

Bill Best makes wooden race cars, trucks, airplanes, animals, and Christmas ornaments for the kids of Children’s Harbor to enjoy. The patients love these wooden toys because they can customize them with paint, jewels, ribbon, etc at the Family Center. Counter Dimension’s in Pelham, AL, has continuously donated scrap lumber to him specifically for building the toys.

Beanie Babies bring big smiles

Beth Marsh and many of her friends toured our Family Center several months ago and learned that Children’s Harbor has a Beanie claw machine where every child gets 2 tokens a day. Because the machine is set up for success, every child often walks away with 2 Beanies which they love to take to their rooms, family, and friends.

Now cancer free, Sydney's got a mission

After a hard battle, Sydney became cancer free on May 28, 2010. Although she is no longer taking treatments, Sydney is still involved with helping children battling cancer at Children’s of Alabama. She spends time helping with her foundation called Sydney’s Coins for Courage, which encourages children and their families battling cancer through Beads of Courage.

Remote car race gets Caleb walking

Caleb is a great example of the little miracles that happen continuously throughout our Family Center. Because of chronic pain brought on by his diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura, it had been very hard for Caleb to find the motivation to walk. Doctors, nurses and physical therapists tried and tried for a month to motivate Caleb to resume movement, but all of their attempts were unsuccessful. However, that changed when Caleb came to the Family Center for our remote control car race.

Return visit brings bear hugs & confirmation

There were many times when Corey felt like giving up. But, he was encouraged by what he’d learned from years of receiving help at the Family Center. “Children’s Harbor helped me to become a brave, honest, hardworking, and thankful man. I didn’t give up,” Corey told us.